WELLY M. SIAHAAN (KEYBOARDS)

• Born on: 12/16/19�
• Main influences: Genesis, Yes, ELP, PFM, J.S. Bach
• Previous bands: IPS Project, Makara
• First record acquired: Genesis “Nursery Crime”
• First concert attended: Rick Wakeman Live in Jakarta

Biography:
Welly shows his interest in music since he was young. Besides learning the basic of classical piano, he also learned the classical guitar lessons.
His biggest influence in music came from Yes, Genesis (Peter Gabriel’s era), ELP and other progressive bands. While known as a great keyboardist among his friends, he was also has some achievements in rally.
After being involved as a music producer in several albums, Welly joined Vantasma during the preparation of Vantasma’s first record “Beyond Fallen Dreams” as a keyboardist and a music producer for the band.

Favourite Records and Artists:
Yes - Tales From The Topographic Ocean
Genesis - Nursery Crime
Kaipa - Notes From The Past, Keyholder
The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are

Taufik “Opik” Ismail (VOCALS)

• Born on: 03/25/1981
• Main influences: Dream Theater, Helloween, Yngwie Malmsteen, Iron Maiden
• Previous bands: Artica, Ventilasi, Athena
• First record acquired: Dream Theater “Images and Words”
• First concert attended: Helloween, Jakarta “Indonesian Tour”

Biography:
Opik is a natural born singer. The first time he sings for a band is when he joined his high school band, Ventilasi. The band played cover songs from some classic rock bands. Since then, Opik’s unique vocal characteristic was favored among his friends, and he has involved in some bands, with some achievements, such as :

• Artica : 3rd winner of “Highschool Festival” in East Jakarta.
• Athena : - 2nd winner of “Karawang - Bekasi Festival”, a festival to memorize the battle of Karawang - Bekasi.
• 3rd Winner of “Indonesia’s Independence Festival”.
• Voldemort : - 1st winner of “Music Festival” at Islamic Institute, South Jakarta.
• 3rd winner of “Indonesia’s Independence Festival”, South Jakarta.
• etc.

In 2001, Danny Andreas (former Vantasma’s guitarist), invited Opik to join his band, in order to replace the former vocalist. At the time, Opik was prepared to perform with Vantasma in the “Indonesian Progressive Festival I”. Since then Opik has become the leading singer in Vantasma, also one of the most powerful singer in Indonesian Progressive Society.

Favourite Records and Artists:

Dream Theater - Images And Words
Helloween - Keeper I & II, Time of The Oath
Iron Maiden - Fear Of The Dark
Metallica - The “Black” Album
Guns N’ Roses - Use Your Illusions I & II
Yngwie Malmsteen - Almost all of his albums
Rhapsody - Dawn Of Victory
Angra - Rebirth

JACKY SURANTO (GUITARS)

• Born on: 01/03/78
• Main influences: Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Rush, Metallica, Helloween, The Flower Kings, Camel
• Previous bands: Stoeva, Paragraph
• First record acquired: MR. Big - Lean Into It
• First concert attended: Helloween - ‘Indonesian Tour’

Biography:
He was born on January 3rd, 1978. The first time he joined a band, he played drums for his high school band, Stoeva. With this band he played some material from alternative rock bands. His interest on drums began when he attended his friend’s band rehearsal.

Several years later, some friends invited him to join a rock band (Paragraph) with a little touch of progressive music. With this band he records a demo, but in ‘99 he left the band because he wants to concentrate with his study. During his college years, he interested in playing guitar. He learns how to play guitar from books and videos. During the time, he was invited to become a singer and also a guitar player, the band it self played metal compositions.

In September 2005, when Vantasma preparing to perform at the ‘Prognite’ event, Gaga invited him to become one of Vantasma’s guitarist. Untill one day, Vantasma have the opportunity to record their materials into their own albums with the title “Beyond Fallen Dreams”.

Favourite Records and Artists:
Megadeth - Countdown To Extinctions, Youthanasia
Metallica - Kill ‘Em All
Sepultura - Arise
Iron Maiden - Peace of Mind, A Real Dead/Live Ones
Dream Theater - Images And Words, Metropolis Pt.2-Scenes From A Memory
Symphony X - The Oddysey
Shadow Gallery - Tyranny
Helloween - Time of The Oath
Rush - YYZ
Guns N’ Roses - Use Your Illusions I & II
Extreme - Waiting For The Punchline
The Flower Kings - Retropolis
Steve Vai - Fire Garden

ANGGITO “Gig” RASTU RIHADI (BASS)

• Born on: 09/03/78
• Main influences: Rush, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, G N� R, Megadeth
• Previous bands: Shreebix, Armageddon
• First record acquired: NKOTB (the monstrous boy band haha..)
• First concert attended: Racer X Asian Tour, Taipei

Biography:
Gig started forming a band named Shreebix in his early years of middle high with his cousin and their friends. They played songs from variety hair metal bands from Damn Yankees to Bon Jovi. After some time playing cover songs, the band started to writing their own compositions, most of them are pop rock songs. The band only lasted for 3 years.

In 1999 Gig was invited to the band Armageddon, a band played cover songs from Extreme and Van Halen. After the band participating a music festival in Jakarta, Gig left the band. He didn’t joined any band for several years until in 2005 he often have a jam with Jacky and Gaga, and Gaga decided to use their jamming material to be performed by his band “Vantasma” in the upcoming “Prognite”. Fortunately, Mr. Andy Julias, the chairman of IPS asked the band to record their songs in a full album, so Gig was fully involved as a full member of Vantasma as the band recorded their debut album “Beyond Fallen Dreams”.

Favourite Records and Artists:
Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Megadeth - Countdown To Extinctions, Youthanasia
Guns N’ Roses - Use Your Illusions I & II
Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy
Rush - Permanent Waves
Camel - Snow Goose

EDI FITRI GUNARA (GUITARS)

• Born on: 08/01/1981
• Main influences: Metallica, Dream Theater, Angra, Rhapsody, Shadow Gallery, The Flower Kings, Yngwie Malmsteen, Scorpion, Michael Angelo Batio, Tjahjo Wisanggeni, Ian Antono
• First record acquired: Metallica - Black Album
• First concert attended: Betrayer - Live at Gunadarma University

Biography:
Edi Fitri Gunara was born in Bekasi on 1981. When he started playing guitar at the age of fifteen, he also try to play another instruments like drums and bass. Before too long, he realizes that those instruments are not fitting him, so he turns to play guitar again. Later on he started to practice guitar from books and video lessons that he acquired from friends and the internet. The first guitarist that he admired is James Heatfield from Metallica, because he has speed and power when playing his guitar. Another guitarist that influence him is Yngwie Malmsteen. He was very surprised that there’s person in the world that can performed like a magician, with his classical style he is able to hypnotized people with his picking and melody and very fast arpeggios. Yngwie has a major impact on Edi, because he favored his classical melody. On 1999, the first band that he is join on is “Voltaire”, his high school band based on metal influence.

When he’s still in college, he meet a person that introduced him to another genre, which is progressive, especially progressive metal. The first album that he heard is “Images and Words” from Dream Theater and it ROCKS!!! Those brilliant people (Dream Theater) is somehow managed to play musical parts that people would find it difficult to understand, plus the amazing technique. Later on he started to take part in some local music competition with his band Voltaire. In 2001 they take part in the first Indonesian Progressive Festival I, held on Taman Ria Senayan. They replace the band’s name to “Vantasma” rather than Voltaire, because the word Vantasma seems easier for people to remember.

After the performance on taman ria senayan, Vantasma are not active an sometimes, so Edi decided to finish his college and getting his Economic Bachelor degree first and decided to leave the band. On 2005 Edi being asked to act as an additional player for Vantasma because their lead guitarst was not available for the event that Vantasma will attempt (The IPS’ Prognite). Having that opportunity Edi decided to re-join Vantasma and fill the lead guitar position in Vantasma. Later on Edi managed to adjust with other band mates and continue to perform from one cafe to another until there’s an offer to make an Album under the flag of PRS ( Progressive Rock Sony ) Records. Vantasma managed to make their first album, with the title “Beyond Fallen Dreams”.

Favourite Records and Artists:
Metallica - Black Album
Dream Theater - Scene From Memory
Shadow Gallery - tyranny
Angra - Rebirth
Rhapsody - Dawn of Victory
Yngwie Malmsteen - all albums!

ARINDRA ‘Gaga’ RAGASTI (DRUMS)

• Born on: 16/04/1981
• Main influences: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Camel
• Previous bands: Pilovator, Voltaire
• First record acquired: Metallica “Ride The Lightning”
• First concert attended: Tengkorak (Local Grind Core Band)

Biography :
Born in April 16th 1981, Gaga was introduced to music by his father. While still in the ages of Elementary School, he listens to The Beatles’ albums, and other classic albums. Later on he was introduced to heavy metal bands such as Guns ‘n Roses, Mr Big, White Lion, etc by his brother, Gig (recent Vantasma’s bass player).

The first musical instrument he played was drums, which he learnt naturally. He was lucky that his father supported him and his brother’s interest of music, and brought them a set of musical instruments. By the ages of 13, he formed a band with his cousin, Dody (recent Vantasma’s manager), with Dody played drums, while Gaga on guitars and vocals. They played cover songs from The Cure, Nirvana, Bon Jovi, and Weezer.

While he was in High School, he formed a band named “Pilovator”, with Joseph Hutagalung (Asphyxiate) on guitars, The late A. Subandi on Guitars, and Danny Andreas on bass. They played cover songs from Metallica, Sepultura, and Megadeth. That was the moment Gaga returned to play drums after some years he played guitars.

Pilovator only last for two years. After the band broke up, Gaga, Danny Andreas and Edi Fitri Gunara formed a band named “Voltaire”. In 2001, they changed the band’s name into “Vantasma”.
Right now, after graduating his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Gaga is fully concentrating in Vantasma and keeps writing compositions for the band.

Favourite Records and Artists:
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Megadeth - Youthanasia
Angra - Rebirth
Helloween - Keeper I&II, The Time Of The Oath
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of The Seventh Son
Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
Hypocrisy - Into The Abyss
Guns ‘n Roses - Appetite, Illusions I&II
Mr Big - Big, Bigger, Biggest
Dream Theater - a Change of Seasons
Shadow Gallery - Tyranny
Marillion - Holidays in Eden, Best of Both Worlds
Kaipa - Keyholder
The Flower Kings - Retropolis, Stardust We Are
Camel - Mirage, Snow Goose
Led Zeppelin - Houses of The Holy
Weezer - Pinkerton
The Cranberries - No Need To Argue

In 1999, after their former band broke up, Gaga and Danny Andreas invite Edi Fitri Gunara and formed a band named “Voltaire“.
The line up was :

Danny Andreas : Guitars
Edi Fitri Gunara : Guitars
Gaga : Drums
A.T : Vocals
Yudo : Bass Guitars

At that time they still played cover songs from metal bands, until one day Jacky (recent Vantasma�s guitarist) showed up to the rehearsal with the �Images and Words� album from Dream Theater. Since then Voltaire start to plays cover songs from Dream Theater, and also start to make their own compositions that heavily influenced with DT, with some ethnic touches on it.

In the process A.T and Yudo left the band and replaced by Opik (recent Vantasma’s vocalist) and Rudi. D. In 2001, the band’s name was changed into Vantasma. Still in 2001, Vantasma participated on “Indonesian Progressive Festival I“, a progressive music festival held by “Indonesian Progressive Society (IPS)“, with the line up :

Danny Andreas : Guitars
Edi : Guitars
Gaga : Drums
Opik : Vocals
Rudi. D : Bass Guitars

In 2002 Rudi left the band to concentrate on his career, he was replaced with Nyoman ‘Yuta’ Bayutara on bass. With this line up Vantasma was actively participated on music festivals. In the end of 2003 Edi left the band to concentrate on his study. With the departure of Edi, the band�s become unstable, and for some years only making composition with minimalist format. Untill in 2005 Gaga was asked by Mr. Andy Julias (the chairman of IPS) for Vantasma to participate in “Prognite”, a progressive music event held regularly by IPS.

Unfortunately, Yuta was unable to join Vantasma in the preparation of Prognite, because his mother’s health conditions had become unstable, so he left the band. The Band recorded a mini demo with Gig and Jacky as an additional player. Only a week before the Prognite event, Danny Andreas also left the band for a family reason, so Gaga asked Edi to return to the band for the upcoming event. Edi was agreed, so Vantasma participated in Prognite with their new line up :

Edi : Guitars
Jacky : Guitars
Gaga : Drums
Opik : Vocals
Gig : Bass Guitars

After hearing the band’s demo, Mr. Andy Julias asked the band if they wanted to record their songs in a full album. During the preparation of the recording session, Gig and Jacky were established as a member of the band. Later on Welly M.S was introduced to the band as a music producer and a keyboardist. Vantasma recorded their debut album in 2006 with the line up :

Edi : Guitars
Jacky : Guitars
Gaga : Drums
Opik : Vocals
Gig : Bass Guitars
Welly M.S : Keyboards